I am not well versed in wilderness medicine, but plan to learn more ... so, pardon the stupid questions. Does Sterile Gauze wrapped with duct tape around a wound provide the same functionality as leukotape? What is the leukotape primarily used for ... blisters?

The high school track coach always made us apply this stuff to our feet before taping. Also, the alcohol in it has a slight effect of toughening the skin. It is kind of messy to use on the trail, though, and it tends to stain your socks brown.

Some of the modern alternatives are more portable.

Personally, I don't use the stuff anymore. I carry one good roll of cloth-based sticky first aid tape (which doubles as your garment repair tape).--B.G.--

I use it for bonding tape to a trouble spot. I have some in one of the BPL dropper bottles. The dropper tip serves as an applicator.

Once a spot is clean, and then de-oiled with alcohol, I spread enough benzoin to cover the target area, plus a little. I then apply Leukotape. I have not any tape de-bond over the course of a week and 100+ miles.

I've never been able to keep pads or simple tape on my feet for very long. Benzoin and Leukotape make a near permanent application. The potential for blistered toes or heels is a far more likely scenario than a flesh wound. And Leukotape by itself will suffice for those.

There have been recent threads on what makes a good first aid kit, and why. Brad Groves' article "Be Prepared, Not Equipped" touches on this. Wilderness First Aid courses emphasize the need to improvise.

Perhaps another thread is in order, to preserve the integrity of this one.

At the first sensation of trouble I check things out. If a sock swap doesn't resolve it, I apply benzoin and tape, over and well beyond the trouble spot.

If it's already a blister, I do the same thing, again being careful to go well beyond the trouble spot. Sometimes things go downhill and the blister ruptures, but even so, enough of the tape stays in place that I don't need to do anything else.

I palpate for tenderness to make sure infection isn't setting in, but otherwise leave things alone until tape and skin come off. Sometimes a week or two.

"Tincture of benzoin has two main medical uses: as a treatment for damaged skin and as an inhalant.It is often applied to skin before applying tape or other adhesive bandages. To some degree, it protects the skin from allergy to the adhesive in the tape or bandage, but mostly it makes the tape or bandages adhere much longer.[1][2] It is also used by athletes for its reputation of toughening skin exposed to the tincture.It can be applied to minor cuts as a styptic and antiseptic (an effect of both the benzoin and its alcohol solvent)[2].It is also used as an oral mucosal protectant, for recurring canker sores, fever blisters, and the like.[3]It can also be inhaled in steam as a treatment for various conditions including bronchitis and colds. There is some disagreement as to whether or not benzoin should be used as a treatment for asthma.[4][5]It is used in the U.S. military to treat blisters. A common treatment utilized by medics in the U.S. Army is to drain the fluid from a blister and to inject the same amount of compound tincture of benzoin, to help seal the space created by the blister, to serve as a local antiseptic, and to prevent further abrasion or loss of skin. This is commonly known as a hot shot amongst military personnel due to the burning sensation experienced. An older and ill advised method of the same name involves identical procedures using bleach as a substitute for tincture."